11 completely overrated New York City holiday traditions, and what you should do instead

Rachel Gillett, provided by

Published 5:28 pm, Thursday, December 7, 2017

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Click ahead to see gorgeous black and white photos of New York City.

Click ahead to see gorgeous black and white photos of New York City.

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A general view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

A general view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

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A woman walks in Soho.

A woman walks in Soho.

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A general view of Soho.

A general view of Soho.

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People walk in New York.

People walk in New York.

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People talk in Washington Square.

People talk in Washington Square.

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A reflection of a billboard.

A reflection of a billboard.

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People walk in Chelsea.

People walk in Chelsea.

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A woman poses in the Greenwich Village.

A woman poses in the Greenwich Village.

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A general view of the new World Trade Center buildings.

A general view of the new World Trade Center buildings.

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A taxi.

A taxi.

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A general view of the new World Trade Center buildings.

A general view of the new World Trade Center buildings.

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A general view of New York City.

A general view of New York City.

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The New York City skyline.

The New York City skyline.

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A general view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

A general view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

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A general view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

A general view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

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Children play in Washington Square.

Children play in Washington Square.

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A view of the Statue of Liberty.

A view of the Statue of Liberty.

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The Flatiron Building

The Flatiron Building

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The New York City skyline is seen from the Empire State Building.

The New York City skyline is seen from the Empire State Building.

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The New York City skyline.

The New York City skyline.

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The New York City skyline.

The New York City skyline.

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People walk in New York.

People walk in New York.

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The Flatiron Building.

The Flatiron Building.

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People walk in New York.

People walk in New York.

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People walk in New York.

People walk in New York.

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The New York City skyline.

The New York City skyline.

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A general view of Duane Street.

A general view of Duane Street.

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A general view of TriBeCa.

A general view of TriBeCa.

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A general view of the Empire State Building.

A general view of the Empire State Building.

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A general view of the Empire State Building.

A general view of the Empire State Building.

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The Empire State Building is reflected in a car mirror.

The Empire State Building is reflected in a car mirror.

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A general view of Soho.

A general view of Soho.

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A general view of the Greenwich Village.

A general view of the Greenwich Village.

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A mother and his son play in the West Fourth Street Courts.

A mother and his son play in the West Fourth Street Courts.

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Boys playing in the West Fourth Street Courts.

Boys playing in the West Fourth Street Courts.

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The Staten Island Ferry Terminal.

The Staten Island Ferry Terminal.

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A barber shop is seen in Chelsea.

A barber shop is seen in Chelsea.

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People talk in Washington Square.

People talk in Washington Square.

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Reflections in a bar of the Greenwich Village.

Reflections in a bar of the Greenwich Village.

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Graffiti.

Graffiti.

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A guy walks in Washington Square.

A guy walks in Washington Square.

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The Longacre Theatre.

The Longacre Theatre.

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The New York City skyline.

The New York City skyline.

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A general view of TriBeCa.

A general view of TriBeCa.

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A little girl walks by the Ground Zero memorial.

A little girl walks by the Ground Zero memorial.

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People stand in Washington Square.

People stand in Washington Square.

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11 completely overrated New York City holiday traditions, and what you should do instead

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There's nothing more magical than holiday time in New York City — that is, until you have to push yourself through hordes of tourists and mouth-breathers.

The Grinchy, TLDR-version of this article is that virtually everything you plan to do in NYC over the holidays that usually draws a crowd is overrated. Sorry.

But take heart! There are some exceptions to this rule — and plenty of alternatives to choose from that won't result in you and yours getting overheated, trampled, mobbed, and then some.

To find them, Business Insider consulted staffers who live and work in and around New York City.

Here some of the most overrated things to do in NYC over the holidays, along with some caveats and alternatives.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

"The event packs all the blocks around the tree with selfie-stick-wielding tourists, creating a crowd that can induce claustrophobia, especially for those who (like me) don't care about oversized Christmas trees that much," Science and Innovation Editor Dana Varinsky said.

"And the thing is: The tree will be up for the entire season, all lit and everything, exactly as it looks on that first night, but with less crowds and better photo ops."

Intagramming the perfect picture of the Rockefeller Tree

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

"It's always super crowded in Midtown during the holidays, and there's no such thing as the perfect shot — unless you want it to include a bunch of random tourists in the background," said Insider Picks Editor Ellen Hoffman, who's been in New York for more than eight years.

An anonymous Business Insider employee who has lived in New York for five years suggested going to see the Washington Square Park tree instead.

Going anywhere in Midtown

Diego Torres Silvestre/Flickr

In fact, Hoffman said going anywhere in Midtown ever, but especially during holidays, is a nightmare.

"The massive crowds will swallow you whole if you're not used to walking around NYC," she said.